Canvas-tightener for endless conveyers.



No. 650,657. Patented May 29, I900. C. A. A. RAND. CANVAS TlGl-ITENER FOR ENDLESS CONVEYEBS.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES:

PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES A. ANDERSON RAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEERING HARVESTER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CANVAS-TIGHTENER F OR ENDLESS CONV EYERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,657, dated May 29, 1900.

Application filed March 2,1900. Serial No. 7,075. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. ANDERSON RAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oanvas-Tighteners for Endless Oonveyers, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear side perspective view of so much of a self-binding harvester as necessary to show the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front side perspective view of the same parts. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details.

A and A are the rear and front sills, respectively, of a harvester-platform. Upon the latter the cutting apparatus is secured. Adjacent to the rear sill A is the slide B, and adjacent to the sill A is the slide B. In the slides is journaled the roller D. Each slide is free to move longitudinally, but otherwise held in position by parts extending therethrough. For these purposes a tang a, formed upon lug or bracket A passes through the slide B, and a tang a on the bracket 1), secured to the sill A, passes through a slot in the slide B. J ournaled in the slides B B is the rock-shaft 0, having an arm 0 reaching downward into a hole a in the sill A. This arm c is curved so that the spring 0 upon the rock=shaft O and the ratchet C can pass beyond it. In rear of the slide B this rockshaft is bent downward in crank form, as at 0 the crank in this instance resting against the part b, which is firmly secured to the sill A. The spring 0 is passed upon this rockshaft and for convenience is secured at one end to the slide B. Its other end is secured to the ratchet 0 c is a ratchet secured to the rock-shaft.

By turning the ratchet O the spring is made tense. The result of the action of this spring upon the rock-shaft is to produce pressure where the arms of the shaft at front and rear engage the resistants, one of which is formed by the side of the hole 0 and the other by the part 11 The action of the parts described is to move the slides, and the roller D with them, on their sills. An endless canvas E, drawn around a suitable roller E and the roller 1), is thus made tense. The canvas is broken away for the purpose of showing other parts clearly.

The present invention is limited to means for rendering the spring inoperative when desired, andthus permitting the endless canvas to remain slack when the machine is not in use. The means provided for removing the stress exerted by the spring from the sills A and A, and hence resisting its tendency to move the slides B and B, are the crank g, journaled in the slide B, and a link H, through which passes the wrist as formed on therear arm of the rock-shaft O. From the wrist g extends the arm G, which may be considered merely as a lever by which'to move the crank g. The result of the movement of this lever is to render the stress of the spring inoperative, and thus, as stated, permit the endless canvas to become loose. This matter will be clearly understood when the fact is taken into account that one end of the spring is secured to the rear slide and the other end to the rod. When the lever G is moved so that the crank-wrist by pulling the link draws the down-reaching arm on the rear end of the shaft away from the stop I), the other end of the spring is, in effect, made to sustain the action of the spring. In short, the spring, being, in effect, connected to the slide at both of its ends through various connecting parts, is rendered inoperative.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an endless-conveyer tightening device, supports for guides, longitudinally-moving canvas slides, the roller D journaled therein, a rock-shaft journaled in said canvas slides and having arms extended to'engage stops on the said supports, a spring surrounding said rock-shaft and secured at one end thereto, its other end secured to one of the slides, an arm formed on said rock-shaft, a crank g and a link connecting said crank with one of said arms on the rock-shaft whereby, by the movement of said crank upon its axis,'the arm formed on the rock-shaft may be drawn from contact with the stop on the supports, all combined substantially as described.

CHARLES A. ANDERSON RAND.

VVit-nesses:

OHAs. H. CHAMBERS, MARVIN CRAMER. 

